When I look out my living room window to the west, I have the gift of being able to VIEW the waves of Lake Huron crashing the shoreline of our yard, or watching a beautiful sunset in the evening. And when I look out my window to the east, I have the gift of being able to VIEW my parent’s gorgeous pond and yard, lined with a fence row of trees, flower gardens accenting the grassy areas, manicured beautifully by my parents. And yet, even with these most spectacular VIEWS, there is one that is even more special, more precious, exceedingly more beautiful than any VIEW Lake Huron, the sunsets, or the pond can provide for me. It is the VIEW of my parents walking across the yard.
If you look at the picture above, you will see my parents, walking from their home to ours. Sometimes it’s to pick me up for a walk around the neighborhood. Other times it’s them coming over for dinner. Or perhaps it’s the journey over for nothing other than taking time to have a tea and sit together. Seeing them walk over brings a smile to my face, and then hearing them say, “have time for a tea?” is one of the biggest blessings of having them next door.
There can be many beautiful VIEWS, images, that become imprinted into our minds. Sometimes from a childhood memory. Or the birth of our child. Times when the clock seems to stop, and we see God’s hand in something remarkable. Moments in time that become etched into our hearts and minds, as we seek to hold onto them for a lifetime.
My prayer today with our Wednesday’s Word, VIEW, is that we ask God to show us some VIEWS that He would like to have embedded in our hearts and minds. Perhaps there are some VIEWS that we take for granted, ones that we rush past without notice. Ones that God is asking us to see, to pause and VIEW the beauty in them. A child running to us with arms open wide. A spouse seated at the table reading the Word of God. Someone laughing. Someone helping a person in need. Or parents, walking across the yard, to sit and have a cup of tea.
What types of moments will you allow God to place in your heart and mind today? Comment below if you, like me, have a special moment embedded into your heart and mind. I’d love to hear about it.
One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. To beyond the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple. Psalm 27:4
If you would like to receive notice when Misty posts a blog, you can subscribe to her website, https://mailchi.mp/7844a4ba7f8b/welcome and follow her on Instagram @mistydawncramer and Facebook, Misty Cramer, Author & Speaker. She would love to connect with you!
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It didn’t take long for me to dread my physical therapy appointments. After my car accident, I went through a couple shoulder surgeries. The real pain came from the therapy and exercises, following the surgeries. I remember all too well, attempting to climb my fingers up the wall, working intensely to make it even to waist height. The pain radiated through my arm, from finger tips to shoulder blades. Tears streamed down my face. Teeth clenched. One more crawl. One more inch. Day after day. Week after week. Month after month. It was exhausting, painful. And yet, every day, I went at it again.
What keeps us moving forward through painful experiences? What keeps us “SOLDERING ON”? In my example, the reward for moving forward was the truth in knowing that if I didn’t, progress wouldn’t be made. My shoulder would lock in place, with the inability to move higher; my arm would be of little use with no mobility and no strength. How did I know this? I trusted what the doctor said was needed; and I carried out his plan faithfully, SOLDIERING ON through the pain.
Physical pain certainly isn’t the only type of pain we experience. Often times, our emotional pain is much greater than our physical pain. Emotional pain grabs ahold of our hearts, pulling at it in ways that make us feel as if our chest is literally going to rip apart. The tears stream down our faces. Our teeth clench. We wonder if we can crawl even one more inch. What will keep us SOLDIERING ON through that type of pain? Trust in a mighty God; one who says that He is walking with us and that He will not leave us, regardless of how difficult and painful the journey may get. One who tells us there is always hope, for He Himself, is hope.
Are you having difficulty today SOLDIERING ON? Is there a pain deep within your soul that is keeping you paralyzed? Are there relationships in your family that are causing you to grieve? Is your marriage in a place that has you wondering how you will manage to climb from the pit it seems to have spiraled into? Are the bills piled up on the desk, bank account low, leaving your heart rapidly pounding, as you gasp for air to reach your lungs? Are you wondering how to climb out of bed this morning, as the agony of a deep loss in your life has you captive?
My dear friend, I see you. I have grieved for family to the point of being physically sick. I have had anxiety overtake me while paying bills. I have caught my breath by breathing into a paper bag after my cancer diagnosis. I have wondered how to get out of bed, how to function, after the loss of a family member. I see you; my heart cries with you, and I am sorry for what you are experiencing. I promise you, even in your darkest moments, there is a God who sees you. Who wants to meet you in your pit of pain. Who wants to help you climb out of that pit, carrying you if necessary. He wants to walk with you, speak to your heart, grieve with you, and help you stand once again. Will you trust Him?
Perhaps you don’t know what trusting God looks like. If that is you, please reach out to me; I would love to share Jesus with you. Need prayer? I would be honored to pray for you; please message me with your request. Together, we will see God at work; I just know it.
Below are some scriptures to help us all continue to SOLDIER ON during our difficult times:
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3
The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. Habakkuk 3:19
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. 1 Chronicles 16:11
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4
If you would like to receive notice when Misty posts a blog, you can subscribe to her website, https://mailchi.mp/7844a4ba7f8b/welcome and follow her on Instagram @mistydawncramer and Facebook, Misty Cramer, Author & Speaker. She would love to connect with you!
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Have you seen an alligator without a tail? No? Me neither. Well, meet Bob. I was able to meet Bob recently on our trip to Alligator Adventure in Myrtle Beach.
Bob was born without a tail, which is the most prevalent birth defect among gators. Alligators like Bob have 0% chance of survival in the wild. Zero! Their tails are essential. Being born without one, is a death sentence. That is, unless someone saves them. Unless someone takes them into their protective “arms” and places them into a habitat where they will be protected from prey, and fed in a way that is accessible for them. Upon being saved, gators like Bob can grow, flourish, and live a life without fear of certain and immediate death.
Bob, God used you to remind me of a truth that some people may not know. A truth that those of us who do know, often take for granted. We are born, not necessarily needing to be physically saved from death, but certainly in need of being spiritually saved. Just as Bob would have had zero chance of life without being rescued, we find ourselves with zero chance (as in no chance at all) of an abundant and eternal life without being rescued by a Savior, Jesus, who loves us enough to go to the cross for us. A Savior who puts us in His arms, not only saving us from certain death, but loving us, caring for us, strengthening us, as we journey forward, on this often difficult earth.
We can be thankful that unlike the alligators, we don’t need to wait to be rescued. We don’t need to hope that by some chance, someone may happen across our path. We are able, right now, to know that Jesus went to the cross for us. We are able to reach out to Him this very second and ask Him to save us. We are able today to let Him know that we are ready to have Him walk ahead of us on this life journey. We are able to ask Him to prepare a place for us in heaven for our future journey. How awesome is that!
There are no magical words that need to be said. It’s about aligning our hearts with the God who loves us enough to send His Son, Jesus. By asking Him for the rescue, we are changing our zero percent chance of abundant and eternal life to 100% chance of abundant and eternal life. My prayer is that no one lets this rescue opportunity pass by.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his oonly Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to fogive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24
And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? John 11:26
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 1 Peter 3:18
If you desire to know more, comment or message me. I would be honored to help you pursue your rescue plan with Jesus.
If you would like to receive notice when Misty posts a blog, you can subscribe to her website, https://mailchi.mp/7844a4ba7f8b/welcome and follow her on Instagram @mistydawncramer and Facebook, Misty Cramer, Author & Speaker. She would love to connect with you!
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I remember, at 18 years old, walking into Meijer with my boyfriend, and swearing I could hear our hearts beating out of our chests, as we walked hand in hand to the aisle with the pregnancy tests. I remember the next morning, before the sun was up, before any of his roommates awoke, taking the pregnancy test in his dorm room. And I remember the panic we felt, as we watched the pregnancy test turn to positive.
My world shifted that day. All the future plans that I had made for my life, suddenly felt as if they were snatched out of my tightly held grip. I was lost.
My story comes upon me more vividly this week, as it holds the great celebration of the birthday of my oldest son. The memories of placing my hands on my tummy and saying, “Don’t you worry little one. We’re going to be alright,” come flashing to the forefront of my mind. Although the words seem confident, they were spoken simultaneously, with these words crying from soul, “Lord, what am I going to do? What is next?”
Even in the midst of what I saw as an unknown plan for the future of myself and my baby, I also knew I served a faithful God. I knew there were to be difficult conversations with parents ahead. Painful decisions to be made regarding my relationship with my boyfriend, and challenges as to how I would proceed with my education. I also knew, however, that I served a faithful God. A God who would forgive me, who would love me. One who would pick me up right where I was, in that painful and confused state. And I knew He would hold me. Comfort me. And give me the direction and strength I needed to move forward.
I’m not sure what situation you find yourself in today, but I want to remind you, that the same faithful God who walked with me, is available to walk with you. We serve a God who is in the midst of your situation. Who has a desire to hold you when you need it, comforting you in your pain. Who forgives you, if your situation involves mistakes you were responsible for. Who will not desert you, but will instead walk with you, directing your next steps of the journey. No one cares more about you or your situation than the God who created you and loves you. He is faithful and He will not leave your side. Will you choose to trust Him today with your situation?
For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. Psalm 33:4
God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9
Written by: Misty Cramer. Misty and her husband Todd have been married for 38 years, and have five sons, the oldest of course, is the baby from the story above. With a busy household of seven, God continued his faithfulness. He provided during the ups and downs faced when being married and pregnant at 18 years old. And He also faithfully provided opportunities for Todd and Misty to later enter into full-time ministry. They currently have been serving in youth, family, and marriage ministry for over 25 years. Their story can be heard in part on the following podcast, “Divorce Ain’t Happening”: https://anchor.fm/coldshowerpodcast/episodes/026-Divorce-Aint-Happening-Mom--Dad-elmq72
Misty is available to speak at your next ladies event, and her and Todd would find it a privilege to speak at your next marriage retreat. For more information on booking, you may head to mistycramer.com. You will also find Misty on Facebook: Misty Cramer, Author & Speaker and on Instagram @mistydawncramer.
#wednesdaysword #imagine320 #laughter #joy #laugh #happy #happiness #truth #encouragement #family #memories #sisters #bible #scripture #devo #devotions #wonder #awe #inspiration #awestruck #god #psalm #challenges #difficulties #psalms #psalm #hardship #pain #endurance #jesus #yestogod #appreciation #thanks #thankful #appreciate #gratitude #rest #relax #grandparents #gen z #gen x #generations #hopeforthenextgeneration #hopeforthefuture #marriage #arguements